雙語社評齊齊聽

英語 (足本收聽)

普通話 (足本收聽)

【明報專訊】WHILE the allocation of more government resources to district councils for the promotion of their work is in itself a good thing and deserves every support, it may not be so good a thing if the councils and their members do not make proper use of the resources.

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政府撥出更多資源，強化區議會的角色與職能，本屬好事，應予支持。然而，這會否收到積極效果，則視乎各個區議會和區議員就資源是否用得其所。

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District councils are provided with funds every year for their community involvement projects, the amount for 2015-16 being more than $350 million. The projects aim at encouraging citizen participation in community affairs, and the funds are open to application from district organisations for activities that range from cultural and recreational activities, civic education, and fire and crime prevention to one-day tours, and afternoon teas. While the Home Affairs Department gives the councils general guidelines for funding approvals and for monitoring the use of the funds, the councils are left to monitor themselves and have the final say in approving funding applications.

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政府每年撥款給區議會舉行「社區參與計劃」，在2015/16年度撥款額逾3.5億元。有關計劃旨在鼓勵市民多參加社區事務，各區的地區團體都可以申請撥款來舉辦各種活動，包括文娛康樂、公民教育、防火滅罪，以至一日遊和下午茶等。民政事務總署向區議會提供一般審批撥款準則，以及監察建議，但是最終撥款決定權和監察工作都由各個區議會負責。

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After studying the councils' records, our reporters found that, during the summer holidays in July and August this year, activities sponsored by the 18 district councils under the community involvement project fell mainly into two categories, the largest category being "Cantonese opera shows, carnivals, and sports classes", and the second largest category being "one-day tours, tea gatherings, dinners, and birthday parties". While such activities may or may not help with district administration, they may be used by some to promote their own election prospects, especially as the district council elections are soon to be held in November. After all, the activities, such as one-day tours, are mainly held by mutual aid committees sponsored by the councils, and if those aspiring to stand for council seats are responsible for the activities, they are in effect using public money to fund their election efforts, which is definitely not in order.

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本報記者翻查區議會資料，統計今年7、8月暑假期間，18個區議會批出的「社區參與計劃」活動申請，最多是舉辦「娛樂粵曲表演、嘉年華、康體班」等活動，其次為「一日遊、茶敘、晚宴、生日會」。這類活動是否促進了地方行政，見仁見智，特別是臨近11月區議會選舉，活動有可能淪為一些人的選舉工程；因為旅行活動，主要由獲得資助的互委會舉辦。若個別人等覷覦區議會議席，又與活動有關，則公共資源變相替個人辦選舉活動，絕不恰當。

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As far as we know, there are no effective auditing and monitoring mechanisms for the councils in their processing of funding applications. Every council has a list of "designated district organisations", most of which have the council's members as their members or even leaders. When these organisations apply to their respective councils for funding, conflicts of interests are bound to arise. While all the councils require their members to declare their interests, the members concerned are not required to withdraw when funding applications in which they have an interest are discussed, though some of the councils do not allow them to take part in discussions or votes related to those applications. As there are no objective criteria for the approval of funding applications, the council members tend to share among themselves through some established procedures the community involvement resources. The relationship between the council members and the organisations applying for funding is never seriously looked into, and there is no way to find out whether or not the funds go to benefit the members themselves. This can lead to corruption.

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按目前已知情况，各個區議會就撥款申請，未見有效機制審核和監察。各區都有地區團體是區議會「指定地區組織」，區議員多屬於這類組織成員，甚至擔當領導職位，組織申請撥款辦活動就有利益衝突。各個區議會有要求相關區議員申報利益，但是在討論撥款申請時議員卻毋須避席，有些只要求議員保持緘默和不參與決議或投票。既然審核撥款申請缺乏真正意義，只是議員之間透過既定程序分佔資源，議員與申請撥款團體組織之間的關係沒有深究，箇中利益是否得到清楚切割，無從知曉，會成為腐化溫牀。

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If things continue in this way, the operation of the councils may be further distorted, and district administration may be adversely affected. To prevent corruption, the government should step in to make sure that public resources at the district level are fairly distributed. At the very least, the government should introduce clearly worded regulations requiring council members with conflicts of interests to withdraw from meetings when the funding applications concerned are under examination. Regulations should also be introduced requiring the sponsored organisations to submit reports of the community involvement activities held and statements of the associated revenues and expenses, which must be open to public scrutiny. This will help strengthen public confidence in the councils.

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為免情况進一步扭曲區議會運作，對地方行政帶來負面影響，政府應該介入確保地區資源分配公平合理，避免滋生腐敗行為。政府起碼要明文規定有利益衝突的議員，在審議撥款申請時一定要避席。另外，明文規定組織在一定時間內必須提交活動報告和結算，並予公開，讓公衆可以監察，有助強化市民對區議會的信心。

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明報社評2015.09.01

Presented by lecturers of Hong Kong Community College, PolyU and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Tony KWOK

Lecturer, HKCC

www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/staff_directory/social_communication/KWOK,_Tony_Chun-tung-111.html

鄭靜芳

香港理工大學專上學院講師

www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/staff_directory/social_communication/CHENG,_Christine_Ching-fong-321.html

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